Gender-based violence and higher education

Gender-based violence is a systemic and persistent issue in Australia and it is occurring at unacceptable rates across higher education settings.

Higher education providers have a unique opportunity drive cultural and systemic change to prevent and respond to gender-based violence—within their own institutions and across the wider community.

Gender-based Violence

National data and sector-wide surveys show gender-based violence is occurring at unacceptable rates across higher education settings, student accommodation and affiliated environments.

The National Code defines gender-based violence as any form of physical or non-physical violence, harassment, abuse or threats, based on gender, that results in, or is likely to result in, harm, coercion, control, fear or deprivation of liberty or autonomy.

Gender-based violence can happen:

in current or former intimate partner relationships (intimate partner violence)
in domestic, family or family-like settings (domestic and family violence)
between friends, acquaintances, or strangers
in workplaces and educational settings (including between students, staff, supervisors, and residents in student accommodation).

Types of gender-based violence

Gender-based violence can take many forms, including (but not limited to):

physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, social, cultural, spiritual, and financial abuse
technology-facilitated abuse (such as sharing intimate images without consent)
stalking and harassment
systems abuse (such as using legal or disciplinary processes to intimidate or silence someone, or misusing privacy rules to block legitimate information sharing)
coercive control (such as patterns of behaviours that create fear and take away someone’s freedom over time)
modern slavery, human trafficking, and forced marriage
harmful practices that put sexual and reproductive health at risk (e.g., non-consensual removal of protection during sex)
institutional violence (such as harm caused by policies, practices, or power structures within institutions)
femicide or homicide.

Gender-based violence may occur as a single incident or take the form of coercive control, where a person uses a sustained pattern of abusive behaviours to exert power and dominance over time.

Who is most affected by gender-based violence?

As outlined in the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032 gender-based violence can happen to anyone, but it is most often perpetrated by men against women, girls and people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities.

Systemic discrimination and social oppression can significantly increase vulnerability for some people. These factors often compound the risk and severity of harm for some groups, meaning they may experience higher rates of gender-based violence and more profound impacts.

These groups include (but are not limited to):

people with disability
First Nations people
people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds (including international students)
people experiencing other intersecting forms of discrimination.

National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032

Why does gender-based violence happen?

Gender-based violence doesn’t happen in isolation—it occurs in a social context shaped by gender inequality, power imbalances and other intersecting forms of discrimination. The National Code requires providers to address the ‘factors that drive and contribute’ to gender-based violence, as well as any factors relevant to a higher education provider’s context. Evidence indicates that the factors that drive and contribute to violence against women include:

excusing or condoning violence against women
men’s control of decision-making and limits to women’s independence in public and private life
rigid gender stereotyping and dominant forms of masculinity
male peer relationships and cultures of masculinity that emphasise aggression, dominance and control.

Factors that drive and contribute to violence against women

There is a significant overlap between the drivers of violence against women and the drivers of violence against LGBTIQA+. Whilst LGBTIQA+ people may experience some or all the above, evidence indicates they also experience additional discrimination and oppression which can take the form of homophobia, biphobia, transphobia and discrimination against intersex people. This further discrimination and oppression is rooted in rigid gender norms, cisnormativity^[1] and heteronormativity^[2].

Other ‘factors that drive and contribute to gender-based violence’ include those that reinforce the likelihood, severity and dynamics of gender-based violence. These factors include:

condoning of violence in general
experience of and exposure to violence (especially in childhood)
factors that weaken prosocial behaviour (e.g. neighbourhood-level poverty, natural disasters, alcohol and gambling),
backlash against gender equality efforts.

Gender-based violence in higher education

Gender-based violence can occur in all settings, including at home, school, universities, workplaces, institutions, in the broader community, and in cross-border contexts where additional vulnerabilities (like immigration status, lack of legal protections, or cultural isolation) may increase risk.

Over the last several years evidence has shown that gender-based violence – in particular, sexual violence and harassment – continues to occur in higher education communities at significant rates.

Gender-based violence in higher education can occur in many settings, including (but not limited to):

on campus (general campus areas, lecture theatres, computer labs, libraries, hospitality or retail spaces, sport and recreational areas, staff offices)
in student accommodation
in club, society, association and union spaces and events
during work experience, professional placements, internships, fieldwork
online (virtual spaces, including online websites, social media, communities and other platforms)
while using the provider’s ICT, infrastructure or Wi-Fi
during off campus events (e.g. conferences, competitions, cultural activities, sporting events), including to international locations
in modes of travel such as taxis, planes and public transport.

In 2021, the National Student Safety Survey found that:

one in 20 students had been sexually assaulted since they started university
one in 6 students had been sexually harassed
of those students who reported sexual assault to their provider, only about 30% stated they were satisfied with the process
women, people with disability and people of diverse sexual orientation and gender identity were disproportionately affected.

The 2023 National Tertiary Education Union Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Survey found that 29% of respondents had a personal experience of sexual harassment in a tertiary education workplace.

Women, First Nations people, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, people with disability, and people of diverse sexual orientation and gender identity are disproportionately affected by gender-based violence. They may experience increased risk of gender-based violence, unique forms of violence (such as using someone's visa status or gender identity to control them), a wider range of perpetrators, and unique barriers to help-seeking.

Another group that may face higher risk and more severe impacts, is international students. This is because low social support, financial stress, housing insecurity, and concerns about visa status can exacerbate risk and create barriers to reporting and getting help. Sexual violence and intimate partner violence are common among women international students, with a national survey finding that 40% or respondents had experienced at least one incident of sexual violence since arriving in Australia.

New and emerging forms of violence will be relevant in the university context, specifically technology-facilitated abuse. Emerging evidence indicates that tech-facilitated abuse is becoming more widespread within family, domestic and sexual violence, and technology is being used to extend existing patterns and characteristics of abuse.

The GBV Regulator does not provide emergency assistance or support services to people who are experiencing or at risk of experiencing gender-based violence and/or sexual assault.

If you, a child, or another person is in immediate danger, call 000.

For 24/7 domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support, contact 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732), text 0458 737 732, chat online or video call via the 1800RESPECT website.

^[1] _{the privileging of cisgender identities, or people who feel their sex assigned at birth ‘matches’ their gender identity, as the preferred or ‘normal’ gender identity.}

^[2] _{the privileging of heterosexuality as the preferred or ‘normal’ sexual orientation.}

Gender-based violence and higher education

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